Celebrating a year of NW action on clean energy

Celebrating a year of Pacific Northwest clean energy action

While the federal government has been embroiled in litigation around environmental rollbacks, our region moves forward towards 100% clean energy. On the same day that President Trump announced his intention to withdraw the US from the Paris Climate Agreement one year ago, the City of Portland and Multnomah County announced groundbreaking commitments to 100% clean energy. Now one year in, the resolutions are already making a real difference for our climate and communities. The resolutions have shifted major utility decisions towards renewable energy, encouraged plans to generate energy locally, and are inspiring other communities to follow suit. The city and county decisions helped Portland General Electric decide to abandon plans for a new fracked gas plant, instead choosing to pursue carbon-free resources and renewable power. Local governments are also pushing TriMet to commit to providing more frequent and affordable transit service powered by 100% clean electric buses.

Reasons for hope

It’s well understood that shutting down fossil fuel plants stands to improve the health of nearby communities. But new research reveals just how quickly such closures can make a difference. In California, shuttering fossil fuel power plants resulted in an almost immediate drop in premature birth rates in pregnant women living nearby. Premature births (which can be associated with lifelong health complications) decreased by two percent just one year after fossil fuel plants closed. An annual World Bank Report on carbon pricing shows that carbon pricing is effective in reducing emissions and bolstering economies. Governments raised $33 billion in revenue last year alone from carbon pricing (a 50% increase from the year prior.) Funds raised are being used to fund climate-friendly policies that will help nations further transition to clean energy economies. At a recent summit, former Vice President Al Gore said he sees bipartisanship returning to the climate fight in the United States/ He may be right—new research out of Boston University highlights the fact that Republican mayors are increasingly embracing climate-friendly policies. While not taking action to “act on climate change” per se, Republican mayors are adopting climate-friendly policies to push forward fiscally responsible initiatives and to prioritize public health.

From saving money, to saving lives: climate action saves

Reducing emissions isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a smart economic decision. A new study from Stanford University finds that holdinging global temperature rise to one half of a degree below the Paris climate agreement two-degree Celsius target could potentially save more than $20 trillion globally—that’s three percent of the global GDP. More than three million cases of dengue fever, the world's fastest-spreading tropical disease, could also be avoidedannually if if global warming is capped at that 1.5 celsius mark. New research also highlights how nations with robust global trade networks may be better prepared to withstand extreme weather shocks brought on by climate change.

Some of the world’s wealthiest investors are starting to sit up and take notice of climate change and how it impacts investments. Mainstream investors are increasingly recognizing both the economic threats of not acting on climate change, and the economic opportunities of transitioning to a clean energy economy. European asset manager, Amundi, believes we’re now at a tipping point, and that institutional investors views are evolving to consider climate change in their decision making. Such a prediction from Amundi is notable, considering that the company holds $1.6 trillion USD under its management, making it the largest asset manager in all of Europe.

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Devon is a native Oregonian and integrated marketing specialist who has worked extensively on climate communications. She has designed and implemented communications strategies that elevate the public discussion on climate change, create support for climate action, and expand earned media coverage on climate issues. Devon previously served as Climate Communications & Outreach Director for Oregon Environmental Council, and continues to provide communications support to them as a project consultant. Devon is also a core member of the Renew Oregon communications team, driving projects that tell the human story of climate change, and working to pass and defend key pieces of climate legislation. She works on values-driven projects throughout the Pacific Northwest through her freelance venture, Downeysmith Creative Marketing.

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It is accurate but insufficient to call Climate Solutions the best climate organization in the region – it just might be the finest regional climate group in the world. — Denis Hayes, President, Bullitt Foundation